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Topic: BerBeris question... (Read 3846 times)

I have a little Barberry, nursery stock, that i want to chop. What is the most appropriate time to cut it, and to repot it? I want to put it in a bigger deeper pot to grow for a while, thicken the trunks and main branches. I am researching a good potting mix for this. I can't plant it outside, I don't trust the rugrats in my building to leave it alone...sigh. Any info will be greatly appreciated

Bought in early June, 2012, chopped the same time. Likely a Sale after flowering. In hindsight, the flowers probably sapped all the energy out of the tree, shouldn't have chopped it then. Too anxious! I am a rookie.

It was actually two trunks close, which I separated, and one died. I'm sure due to root rot. The other barely survived, likely will never be Bonsai, but I will learn from it.

So, probly best chop time is before flowers, late winter early spring. And knock off flower buds to get strong shoots.I can't wait to go get another now. Can't beat a thick trunk and small leaves for 6 bucks. Or even better, a mature one free off Craigslist.

Sorce: You are selling yourself short. Nothing can take the place of experience, except perhaps documented experience. Even better, shared, documented experience!! That way we all can learn and further the art of bonsai! Keep up the good work!--Gene

Hi Sorce! Thanks all for replies. I joined a local bonsai group, and they are willing to encourage my pestering, err, questions. Here are some pics of the raw bush as I bought it. Not touching it at all til spring.

CMW, Nice. The last pic. It looks like a branch was cut, and those 2 new red shoots shot straight up. You see how its causing that swelling there, and inverse taper. Someone is going to tell you to layer it there, star a new nebari, at the widest point. Not a bad idea. But those shoots are always going to be too straight imo, and the first pic, before you see those, has great trunk movement.

So I would try to cut those off and get back to that first pics branching. If you can cure the inverse taper without hacking out too much, that would work. If the swelling can't be cured and you have to layer it, Id hack those new shoots real low. Almost, clump style at the point, remember to keep the trunks different sizes, thick and height.

Anyway, seems you can learn a lot from that cut and those shoots. How it heals, backbuds, swells. All will help you create a better tree.

And, cuz you have a lot of unused future branching up top, and may have to layer it, is try starting a layer up there, just for some more learning. If it works ,score! If not, also score! One wrong way, at the wrong time eliminated.

Though the ground layering you will likely do will be a bit different.

I hope u don't have to though, cuz, minus the swell, the first pic is promising.

Sorce:Thank you for your observations! It is a true shame about those two straight branches...I love the striping on them. I am going to keep them anways, just for the eye appeal, in a different pot...cuttings are a good experiment also. Great idea about layering practice! will see what the next season brings...and now on to virts for drawing practice!Thanks again Sorce!